Jockey Club support for Stanley outdoor training camp promotes inclusivity and youth development

19/07/2023 13:30

The newly rebuilt HKFYG Jockey Club Stanley Outdoor Training Camp reopened today (19 July), offering more opportunities for disadvantaged groups and young people to enjoy the pleasures and benefits of water sports. The redevelopment of the camp, which is operated by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG), was supported by an approved donation of over HK$140 million from The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Charities Trust.

Officiating at today’s opening ceremony were HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee, Deputy Director General of the Youth Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR Professor Song Lai, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Dr Silas Yang, Vice President of the HKFYG Dr Allen Fung, Senior Advisor of the HKFYG Dr Rosanna Wong, and Executive Director of the HKFYG Andy Ho.

Speaking at the opening ceremony Club Steward Dr Silas Yang said that sports and culture is one of the key priority areas of the Club’s charity strategy. The new training camp will benefit the community, especially young people, by offering a variety of water sports experiences, which will strengthen physical fitness and cultivate positive thinking. The new camp will also increase public interest in water sports and promote sports participation.

The Club supported the construction of a new four-storey accommodation building, which is expected to be used by approximately 20,000 guests a year. Around 49,000 people will benefit from water sports activities organised by the camp.

In addition, the Club is supporting experiential training programmes and water sports activities. These include free sports training programmes for disadvantaged groups, with participants being paired with youth volunteers, the aim being to promote both physical fitness and social inclusion. More than 3,000 underprivileged people a year are expected to benefit. Meanwhile, the three-year HKFYG Jockey Club “GoActive” Water Sports Project will promote the whole-person development of young people through a combination of water sports and adventure learning.

The Club is a long-term partner of the HKFYG, sharing its commitment to developing young people and to promoting the enjoyment of sports. It has supported the construction and redevelopment of several of the HKFYG’s outdoor training camps. In 2020, the Club also supported the HKFYG Jockey Club Youth Sports Development project, designed to  encourage more young people to participate in sport and to become more engaged with the community and the environment.

The Club’s support for these projects, like all of its charity donations, is made possible by its unique integrated business model through which racing and wagering generate tax and charity support for the community.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class racing club that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique integrated business model, comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charities and community contribution. Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2021/22, the Club returned a total of HK$33.6 billion to the community. This included HK$27.0 billion to the Government in duty, profits tax and Lotteries Fund contributions and HK$6.6 billion in approved charity donations. The Club is Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer and one of the city’s major employers. Its Charities Trust is also one of the world’s top ten charity donors. The Club is always “riding high together for a better future” with the people of Hong Kong.